Our verdict of the Logitech MX Ergo:There's not a lot of competition out there, so if you're looking for a solid trackball with ergonomic benefits, this is the one to buy. However, the $99 price is a little on the high side for someone looking to dip their toe into the trackball world.810

If you took me back to the beginning of 2017 and asked me what kind of device would make a comeback this year, a trackball would be very low on my list of suggestions, but alas, here we are.

Logitech has just released its MX Ergo trackball, and it’s definitely making some waves out there. Considering the company hasn’t put out a new trackball in almost 10 years, the excitement is understandable.

But we’re not here to talk about whether or not it makes sense to make a trackball anymore. We’re here to figure out whether this particular trackball is worth spending your hard-earned money on.

Specifications

Let’s take a quick look at the numbers for the MX Ergo mouse. While not the most exciting, it’s nice to know exactly where your $100 is going!

380 dpi average (Between 320 dpi – 440 dpi)

8 buttons

32-foot max range

500 mAh battery with up to four months power per charge

Left and right click life around 10 million clicks

5.22 in (132.5 mm) x 2.02in (51.4 mm) x 3.93in (99.8 mm)

9.14 oz with metal plate attached

20-degree angle adjustment

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s jump in and actually look at using the MX Ergo and see how it performs.

First Impressions

I haven’t used a trackball since sometime in the early 2000s, and that was actually an ambidextrous model. With those, you use the middle finger instead of the thumb. I tell you this to set the stage that I’m not a trackball enthusiast. The MX Ergo is a right-handed model where your thumb moves the cursor and your fingers do the rest of the work.

The first thing that caught my attention about the Ergo is how big it is. It weighs in at a hefty 9.14 oz and is 5.22 in x 2.02in x 3.93in in size. I have fairly long fingers, and I feel like my hand fits quite well.

Logitech seems to have designed it where the buttons are close together, but with extra space on the side. This should make it so anyone with small hands can still use the Ergo comfortably as well.

On first use, it’s easy to see that there’s an adjustment period. Even on a laptop, I generally move the cursor around with my pointer or middle finger, so using my thumb is pretty foreign.

After about 30 minutes of mousing around, it started to feel moderately natural for basic computing tasks like browsing the web and using Kodi. We’ll dig into using the trackball for more advanced computing tasks later on. I’ll say that I definitely feel more comfortable with a traditional mouse still, but I could see myself getting used the Ergo.

Design

As far as the design of the mouse, it looks quite nice. As mentioned before, it’s rather large and weighty. This is important for making sure it doesn’t slide around as you apply force.

Further aiding in the goal of keeping the mouse firmly in place is the grippy metal plate on the bottom. Whether I was using the mouse on the arm of a recliner or on a desk, I never once had it slide.

Speaking of that metal plate, it’s actually one of the most critical design elements of the MX Ergo. It connects to the bottom of the mouse via strong magnets and adjusts into two different positions. It moves by about 20 degrees, allowing you to set the trackball higher or lower, depending on your preferences.

Moving onto the buttons, there’s the aforementioned thumb-controlled trackball and a scroll wheel that goes up and down as well as left and right. There’s also two traditional mouse buttons, two extra buttons, and one that switches back and forth between two computers. Lastly, there’s a precision button that slows down the mouse cursor for smaller movements. Simply put, all the control options you need to effectively mouse around are there.

You won’t be using disposable batteries with this mouse. Instead, it comes with a built-in rechargeable one. The USB charging cable is included in the box. Logitech says you can get about four months of life on a single charge. Of course, that’ll vary depending on how often you use the mouse and for how many hours a day you’re mousing around.

In our testing, I never actually charged the MX Ergo, and I never turned it off between uses. After over a week, it’s still running strong and showing no signs of dying. If you’re worried about getting a rechargeable mouse because you think it’s another device that you’re going to have to charge every night, you can relax knowing that won’t be an issue.

I’ll start by saying that there’s no chance I’d replace my standard mouse with this or any trackpad. I don’t have a condition that would require such a change, and for my money, there’s nothing like the feel of a traditional mouse.

One instance where the trackball is vastly superior to a regular mouse is on the couch. Because you’re not actually moving anything around, you can comfortably sit back and use a trackball on all kinds of surfaces.

I mainly used the MX Ergo for three common computer tasks — general web browsing, image editing, and PC gaming.

Web Browsing and Basic PC Usage

For just using Facebook, watching videos, and even working on articles for MakeUseOf, the MX Ergo delivers a fantastic experience. Tracking is accurate, and the aforementioned ability to use the mouse on the couch is great.

Logitech Flow is a slick feature for general usage, as you can program the mouse to work with two different computer and switch back and forth with one button. You can even copy and paste across two linked computers as long as you have Logitech Options installed on both (you’re going to want to download the software anyway, as it allows you to adjust settings for trackball).

This is the one place where I could actually see myself going with a trackball over a regular mouse. You get more flexibility. There’s no need to worry about space or having a flat surface. If you have PCs in different places, this is great. Logitech’s promise of 20% less strain may prevent pain later in life, even if you feel fine now.

Image Editing

Precision is incredibly important in image editing, and it’d be hard for me to give up a normal input device. I’m accustomed to editing with a mouse, and that makes change hard. However, I also use Photoshop on a laptop’s trackpad quite frequently, so I’m not completely opposed to change.

Adjustment period aside, it’s not a terrible experience, and the button that slows the cursor down is useful for making small selections. If you must use a trackball for medical reasons, I could definitely see you getting your image editing done in the same amount of time once you worked through the adjustment period.

PC Gaming

Truthfully, I just couldn’t see myself using the MX Ergo for gaming. I tried Dota 2 and Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds, and in both, I saw a substantial dip in my ability.

Even if I had to make a change, I can’t see myself feeling comfortable enough for games. There’s just too much switching between moving quickly and precisely for it to stand toe-to-toe with a traditional mouse. I’d sooner just switch to playing controller-based games if I needed to.

Wrapping Up

All in all, I can say with confidence that this is the best trackball on the market. Of course, there’s not a lot of competition because there isn’t a ton of options to choose from. Most other models out there are cheaper and lacking the premium features offered by this one.

If you’re in the market for an ergonomic mouse and you think a trackball is for you, I can definitely recommend grabbing the MX Ergo. If you already own a trackball and want a newer, more advanced model, then this is an easy purchase to recommend.

For anyone who’s never used a trackball before, my concern is that spending $100 without knowing that it’ll work for you is a bit scary. If you can make it to a store to get your hands on one first, I’d recommend that.

For someone like me, who’s never used a trackball and isn’t suffering from any kind of hand or wrist problems, I can’t say you should run out and buy one. Personally, I have no intention of dropping my regular mouse in favor of the Ergo, and I’d venture to guess that most PC gamers and hardcore PC users will feel the same.

Long-winded summary aside, it’s really hard for me to make a recommendation on this trackball. On the one hand, I wouldn’t use it all the time to replace my mouse. On the other, I’m not in a position where I need to. In the end, it does what it sets out to do almost perfectly, and the only thing holding it back from being a perfect trackball is the price.

I have been a dedicated track ball user since they came out and the Logitech M570 design has been my favorite. I dont know if it has saved my wrist but I have never had any issues and I am on my computer more than 10 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week. So I think it is safe to say if I was subject to wrist issues the trackball has prevented it.

As for this new version, I saw it but I am not going to fork out that kind of money for it. The last 3 I have owned have a serious issue with their choice of micro switches leads to an early death unless you are mechanically inclined and able to swap out the defective switches for ones that actually work. I have the skills and when I get a new trackball the first thing I do is swap out the switches. I highly doubt Logitech has listened to those of us that have complained and now they have a new and improved version that is guaranteed going to use the same cheap, failed micro switches. If they actually worked I may not have an issue paying this ridiculous price but I have lost all faith in Logitech and will stick with my crusty M570s.

I have used Logitec trackballs for the past 20 years since the first Trackman. I wouldnt change back to a mouse at any cost.
With a mouse, even the slightest little movement goes all the way through the arm up to the collarbone, and I have seen many cases of severe pain in the arm so called "mousearm" as a result of continous use of a mouse. With a trackball the arm doesnt move in the same way, and the pain disappear in a couple of days. I have advised many colleagues with a pain to switch, and they have never looked back to the mouse again.
Even if you havent experienced any pain (yet!), I will not recommend to wait until it happens.

Regarding the Logitech trackballs, My problem is that they have become smaller over the years to the level where I haven't used my M570, as it simply became too small for my hands, so I am still using a bunch of TRackman Marble's. I look forward to try the new MX, and I hope it better fit my large "real-man" hands.

I have used various mouse, touchpads, and many different trackballs for decades. I prefer trackballs and hate touchpads. A trackball takes less desk space, and requires less hand and arm movement. I am neutral about and proficient with both finger and thumb operated trackballs.

I own three m570 trackballs (work, office, and one is just worn out) in the last 8 years. For a seasoned trackball user, $100 is a no-brainer even if the improvements are incremental. Using it right now and loving it.

"All in all, I can say with confidence that this is the best trackball on the market. Of course, there’s not a lot of competition because there isn’t a ton of options to choose from. Most other models out there are cheaper and lacking the premium features offered by this one."
You mentioned Elecom and Kensington in the opening of the article and then just ignored them.
For thumb-operated designs, there's Elecom and at least five knock-offs. For finger-operated, you get two serious models from Kensington (wired, wireless and slimblade), there's CST L-Trac which is another fine choice (if a bit expensive), a few knock-offs with different designs and there's Elecom with a somewhat different design again.
It seems like you just weren't looking hard enough.

I've been using Trackballs for gaming for my entire life. (pretty much...)
I think the MX Ergo feels like its more accurate than say my older M570. Its definitely different than a Mouse and I'm not surprised that you couldn't become just as good in the period of time you worked on this review. I feel that there's nothing inherently worse about a thumb-based trackball or this mouse for gaming, compared to any other mouse.

No idea how to enter the giveaway... but would be interested in seeing how this new MX Ergo stacks up against the MX 570 (using it right now and pretty happy with it ; also use the original marble mouse (wired). Not sure the extra buttons and rechargeable battery are worth the extra $$. My MX 570 uses 1 AA which has lasted more than a year. (Your mileage may vary)

To sign up for the competition.
Why do you assume everyone is brainwashed/stupid enough to automatically have a thinking impaired Facebook, Twitter et al account?
Some people are actually capable of thinking for themselves.

You can create a dummy social media account. My Twitter account has none of my real info other than my email address, and I have an the info set to private, and I don't use it for anything but contests.

Dave LeClair loves games on console, PC, mobile, handheld, and any electronic device that is capable of playing them! He manages the Deals section, writes articles, and does lots of behind the scenes work at MakeUseOf.